Following a 1-3-0 road trip, the Columbus Blue Jackets returned to the friendly confines of Nationwide Arena just in time.
They just didn’t get the result they were seeking.
Adin Hill made 27 saves for his 11th career shutout and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 4-0 Thursday night at Nationwide Arena.
Columbus fell to 8-3-1 at Nationwide Arena since New Year's Day and 20-7-4 overall.
Everything But A Blue Jackets Goal
Columbus needed a better start in this one than Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils in which they surrendered three first-period goals.
It's hard to start more sound than they did against Vegas, doing everything but getting a goal or two.
The Blue Jackets outshot the Golden Knights 8-0 and had an 18-0 shot attempt advantage.
That came to a halt on the Golden Knights power play at 12:00 of the first period when Nicolas Roy (9) scored on the Knights' first shot attempt of the game. Jack Eichel became the Knights' all-time point leader in a single season with his 59th assist and 79th point, passing former Blue Jacket William Karlsson (78 points, 2017-18) as Eichel extended his seven-game point streak (one goal, nine assists). Tomas Hertl (26) added the secondary assist.
As much as the Jackets offense possessed the puck and swarmed the Knights' zone, they could not solve Hill in the crease while on the power play, including a double minor, or at 5v5.
Former Blue Jacket Brandon Saad has resurfaced with the Golden Knights and made his old team pay with his 12th goal at 19:01 of the first. Reilly Smith added his 21st assist and Roy (15) picked up his second point with the assist.
You cannot win without offense but Hill was perfect as the Jackets had a 33-9 advantage in shot attempts and a 14-6 shot total through one. Columbus had 13 total shots on net through the next two periods and was outshot 29-27 for the game.
#CBJ has lost four of five. In that span, outscored 9-2 in the first period and 7-1 on special teams.
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 14, 2025
Hard to come back against good teams right now, and hard to overcome losing the special teams battle.
I don't fault the effort, but can't make it this hard on yourself.
Offense Dies On That Hill
Hill was the story in this one.
While the Jackets’ skaters were basically skating laps around Vegas in the first period, Hill did everything to thwart the Columbus attack and stifle shooters.
That was the theme of the night.
In the second period, things leveled out a bit, and Columbus was down 3-0 through the first 40 minutes.
Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 26th at 12:17 to extend his three-game point streak (two goals, two assists). Hertl (27) and Saad (12) each picked up their second points of the game. Alex Pietrangelo (4) scored the empty netter at 15:38 of the third period. Keegan Kolesar (14) and Brayden McNabb (12) nailed down the assists.
FINAL: Golden Knights 4, #CBJ 0
— Jeff Svoboda (@JacketsInsider) March 14, 2025
The Blue Jackets are shut out at home for the first time since Oct. 28, 2023, vs. the Islanders. Had energy to start, but Vegas got the lead and took over from there.
Back at it here Saturday vs. the Rangers.
Hill recorded his career-high fourth shutout of the season, tied for the league lead. Three of the last four Knights wins have come via shutout. Elvis Merzlikins made 25 saves.
Dire Times
Since the Blue Jackets' 4-0-0 stretch following the 4 Nations Face-Off, Columbus is now 1-4-0 in its last five games. They've surrendered at least three goals in each game, and at least four in all but one. Columbus has been shut out twice in the last four games, which happened at the Florida Panthers last week 3-0.
The Jackets have pivotal rematches against the New York Rangers on Saturday, the Devils on Monday, and the Panthers next Thursday, all at Nationwide Arena.
The Rangers beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in overtime on Thursday to pull even with Columbus at 70 points. The Jackets still hold down the second wild-card spot, with the Montreal Canadiens a point behind, and the Detroit Red Wings and Boston Bruins two points back. The Ottawa Senators beat the Bruins 5-3, leading the first wild card spot with 75 points.
Jake Christiansen has played in every game this season but has been ruled out of Saturday's contest after leaving Thursday's game with an upper-body injury. Christian Fischer made his season debut for the Blue Jackets. He had four hits and played 9:39. Fischer has four career goals at Nationwide Arena including a hat trick, which happened when he was with the Arizona Coyotes on Oct. 23, 2018.
2015: #CBJ draft Keegan Kolesar w No. 69 pick (3rd)
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 13, 2025
2017: CBJ trade Kolesar to VGK for 2nd rd pick; CBJ draft Alexandre Texier w 2nd rd pick
2024: CBJ trade Texier to STL for 4th rd pick in '25
2025: CBJ trade 4th rd pick to SJ for Luke Kunin
Tonight: Kunin/CBJ vs. #VGK/Kolesar
#VegasBorn wins 4-0. #CBJ shutout for the fifth time this season, second time in four games. That's 1-4-0 since the outdoor win.#CBJ D Jake Christiansen did not play since midway through the second period, was not on the bench for the third.
— Aaron Portzline (@Aportzline) March 14, 2025
Final Date With Rangers
The Jackets conclude their season series with a rematch against the Rangers on Saturday, Mar. 15 at 7 p.m. ET from Nationwide Arena.
